EXPANDING GIS ANALYSES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY
Development of long-term geographic information system (GIS) databases of species densities and distributions, combined with biological, ecological, and management-related metrics, can help guide research and management strategies. Here we summarize 3 decades of North American moose (Alces alces) po...
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doaj-cb4f0b754ca1415d922114b16015ba9a2020-11-24T21:21:34ZengLakehead UniversityAlces : A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose0835-58510835-58512018-01-01544554EXPANDING GIS ANALYSES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITYWilliam F. Jensen0Jason R. Smith1Michelle Carstensen2Colin E. Penner3Brian M. Hosek4James J. Maskey, Jr.5North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 North Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, USANorth Dakota Game and Fish Department, 3320 East Lake side Road, Jamestown, North Dakota 58401, USAMinnesota Department of Natural Resources, 5463 West Broadway, Forest Lake, Minnesota 55025, USANorth Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 North Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, USANorth Dakota Game and Fish Department, 100 North Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, USAUniversity of Mary, 7500 University Dr., Bismarck, North Dakota 58504, USADevelopment of long-term geographic information system (GIS) databases of species densities and distributions, combined with biological, ecological, and management-related metrics, can help guide research and management strategies. Here we summarize 3 decades of North American moose (Alces alces) population and harvest densities collected at the management unit scale for the years 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010. A summary analysis of these data indicates that moose have both expanded and contracted along their southern range boundary in recent decades - including the Prairie Provinces and states, and a portion of the northeastern United States. A narrow band of relatively stable and high-density moose populations extends from central Alaska across the Prairie Provinces and east to the Maritime Provinces and upper northeastern states. Distributions in 2010 indicate that moose now occupy an area > 9,492,000 km2 in North America. We also identified that a core range of boreal habitat, only 30% of the occupied range across the continent, supports 89% of the estimated 1 million moose in North America. Time-series analyses can offer a simple and cost-effective approach to monitor the status of moose populations in North America, and might be particularly insightful given the current and predicted future influences of climate change on moose. Other analyses might address population dynamics, habitat, environmental constraints, and harvest management, among other issues. We encourage jurisdictions to cooperate strategically in implementing and coordinating GIS analyses to monitor, assess, and manage the North American moose population.http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/228/270Alces americanusmooseNorth Americarange distributionpopulation densityharvest densityGIS technologylate PleistoceneHolocenearchaeologyhistoric rangetaxonomyCanadaUnited States of America |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
William F. Jensen Jason R. Smith Michelle Carstensen Colin E. Penner Brian M. Hosek James J. Maskey, Jr. |
spellingShingle |
William F. Jensen Jason R. Smith Michelle Carstensen Colin E. Penner Brian M. Hosek James J. Maskey, Jr. EXPANDING GIS ANALYSES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY Alces : A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose Alces americanus moose North America range distribution population density harvest density GIS technology late Pleistocene Holocene archaeology historic range taxonomy Canada United States of America |
author_facet |
William F. Jensen Jason R. Smith Michelle Carstensen Colin E. Penner Brian M. Hosek James J. Maskey, Jr. |
author_sort |
William F. Jensen |
title |
EXPANDING GIS ANALYSES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY |
title_short |
EXPANDING GIS ANALYSES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY |
title_full |
EXPANDING GIS ANALYSES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY |
title_fullStr |
EXPANDING GIS ANALYSES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY |
title_full_unstemmed |
EXPANDING GIS ANALYSES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY |
title_sort |
expanding gis analyses to monitor and assess north american moose distribution and density |
publisher |
Lakehead University |
series |
Alces : A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose |
issn |
0835-5851 0835-5851 |
publishDate |
2018-01-01 |
description |
Development of long-term geographic information system (GIS) databases of species densities and distributions, combined with biological, ecological, and management-related metrics, can help guide research and management strategies. Here we summarize 3 decades of North American moose (Alces alces) population and harvest densities collected at the management unit scale for the years 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010. A summary analysis of these data indicates that moose have both expanded and contracted along their southern range boundary in recent decades - including the Prairie Provinces and states, and a portion of the northeastern United States. A narrow band of relatively stable and high-density moose populations extends from central Alaska across the Prairie Provinces and east to the Maritime Provinces and upper northeastern states. Distributions in 2010 indicate that moose now occupy an area > 9,492,000 km2 in North America. We also identified that a core range of boreal habitat, only 30% of the occupied range across the continent, supports 89% of the estimated 1 million moose in North America. Time-series analyses can offer a simple and cost-effective approach to monitor the status of moose populations in North America, and might be particularly insightful given the current and predicted future influences of climate change on moose. Other analyses might address population dynamics, habitat, environmental constraints, and harvest management, among other issues. We encourage jurisdictions to cooperate strategically in implementing and coordinating GIS analyses to monitor, assess, and manage the North American moose population. |
topic |
Alces americanus moose North America range distribution population density harvest density GIS technology late Pleistocene Holocene archaeology historic range taxonomy Canada United States of America |
url |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/228/270 |
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